It’s that time of year again- the day of the year containing the most light, the most energy, and the perfect alchemy for internal growth. Join us in celebrating the Summer Solstice and the International Day of Yoga by attending our annual solstice class. The class is included with any of our memberships, or pay the $10 drop-in rate, and the studio provides food and beverages that follow for our community of yogis.

A supermoon, a blue moon, AND a total lunar eclipse all in one night is a reason to connect, recalibrate, and celebrate! Please join us for a 75 minute candlelight class that infuses vinyasa flow with yin postures. There is no extra charge for the class, just our regular $10 drop-in or just use those in your unlimited or class package. The studio will provide drinks that follow, so please plan on staying for the community gathering.

So many of us are aware that we need to make changes in our lives, and many of us use this time of year to make resolutions to propel us into creating or releasing habits in order to become better versions of ourselves. However, so many times these resolutions are ephemeral. Why? Do we add too much pressure on ourselves so that we give up entirely when we fail to meet our expectations? Do we become overwhelmed with guilt for not doing it right the first time, and thus postpone our growth until next year?

Change is a process- throughout our lives, we learn by making mistakes and then understanding our mistakes, so why does this not apply to resolutions? I think many people forget the root of the reason they want to make changes. Instead of saying “I want to lose weight” or “I want to get in shape,” think about WHY you want this. Is it to fit in the skinny jeans? Is it to have energy to spend with your kids and family? Is it to take steps to prolong your life? Is it all of the above?

These deeper meanings or intentions are known as Sankalpa, a heartfelt desire or commitment to achieve our true potential. Sankalpa can give you a deeper focus and purpose for meaningful change. Change takes time, it does not happen overnight or even in a week, and real change occurs only when we maintain our focus and refuse to give up when we encounter obstacles. Be gentle with yourself, take it one step at a time, and remember to breathe. You will slip occasionally, but don’t use that as an excuse to quit; instead, come back to your Sankalpa and remember the root of the reason that you are committed to changing yourself. Let your Sankalpa be the fire within you that fuels your journey.

Please join us next Thursday for our annual Winter Solstice class. The 90 minute class will include 54 sun salutations, to match those from our Summer Solstice class, and incorporate several yin postures for releasing tension and stress. Even if you are not able to attend the class, we invite our yogis to join us for food and libations that follow for community and in celebrating our sweet Sarah Poret.

“Is yoga for athletes”? “Do you offer a yoga class for athletes?” These are questions I have been asked many times over since NBalance Hot Yoga & Fitness opened. “Yes and yes” are my answers to each question. If you are an “athlete” accustomed to a traditional training regime, you probably doubt my answer to the first question and, if you have looked over our schedule, you are probably saying to yourself “there is no yoga for athletes’ class at NBalance”. Read on and then go grab your mat (or use one of ours).

Despite the long history of yoga’s existence (thousands of years), yoga is most often excluded from the training schedules of everyday athletes. Reasoning for this ranges from lack of time, to the athlete or coach believing that yoga is just “another way to stretch”. Over recent years, the use of yoga by professional athletes has helped to demystify the benefits of yoga for athletes. Yoga has progressed from a tool during the off season or for injury recovery to becoming an integral part of the competitive athlete’s regime. Benefits of yoga for athletes include:

5. Mental focus.The ability to focus the mind, exclude external distracters, and visualize optimal outcome is a trait that distinguishes the top athletes. The ability to control the mind and quiet the mental chatter is a trait that develops with consistent yoga practice.

For those of you who need examples of “real athletes” who benefit from yoga, let’s look to back to football. During the playoffs and weeks prior to the 2012 Superbowl, there were several news related articles regarding yoga and New York Gaints. An article from Foxnews.com on 2/3/12 was titled “Yoga: How the New York Giants Prepare for the Superbowl”. The article described how yoga is a regular part of both the pre-season, as well as, in-season training programs for the Giants. Another proponent for yoga is Amani Toomer (former NFL wide receiver) who began incorporating yoga into his training regime in 2004 and was quoted in 2009 to say “If I hadn’t done yoga, I’d be out of the league now”.

A powerful statement advocating the benefits of yoga for athletes comes from Rich Roll, ultra-endurance athlete, who was quoted to say:

“EVERY athlete – irrespective of sport or discipline – has the potential to enhance his or her ability by adopting a consistent yoga practice” RRoll 5/4/12 Mindbodygreen.com

While the answer to the second question – Do you offer yoga for athletes? – is yes, you will not find Yoga for Athletes under our class listing. The reason for this is that one of the things I quickly learned through yoga is that we are all athletes. You do not have to be training for an event, participating in team sports, doing the workout of the day, or logging miles cycling or running to qualify as an athlete. Some of the most amazing ‘athletes’ I know are the stay at home mothers. Somehow, they have the energy to rise with sun (if not before), get the children off to school, cook, clean, volunteer for endless activities, supervise homework, mediate fights, perform hundreds of squats a day (picking up the things everyone else leaves on the floor) and countless of ‘lifts and carries’ (carrying all that stuff up and down steps).

The beauty of yoga is that you can be in a class with professional athletes, the young, the old, the fit, the unfit, and somehow everyone has the same razor sharp focus, the union of breath, the challenges with balance postures and the room to expand their practice.

Through a consistent yoga practice you will find that yoga prepares us for the most important event we participate in, life. There is no need for a separate class for athletes. Yes, NBalance may host special workshops to introduce yoga to athletes of different sports. However, in the yoga room we are all the same. When you let go of your ego and see beyond the labels we give ourselves, we are all ultimately ‘training’ to live the best life we can. Yes, yoga is for athletes.

SpinFIT classes are a hit!!!! Participants all agree that the combination of Spinning® with TRX and/or Functional Fitness produces a workout unlike any other in the Clarksville area. The classes start off with 25 minutes of cardio intervals on the Spinner Bikes (top of the line Blade bikes), then it is a quick transition to metabolic strengthening using TRX or Functional Fitness. What is metabolic strengthening you may ask? Think intervals of strengthening exercises structured to keep the heart rate high while improving muscle performance. In one class you can accomplish an effective cardio workout and strength training – just what is needed whether you are trying to lose weight or to improve performance.

What surprises people the most is that SpinFIT classes eliminate the need for an “aerobic day” or “strength day” in their weekly workout program. When classes are designed appropriately (as SpinFIT classes are!) you can accomplish it all in one class. We call that In-N-Out Fitness at NBalance. Get in, get it done, get on with life.

Another benefit people notice is that no matter if you come 2, 3, or 5 days a week, each class is different. This prevents boredom and your body from adapting and progress from slowing.

Perhaps the best benefit of all – the small class size. NBalance fitness classes cap out at 8 individuals. Our philosophy is that instructors are there to coach you not to “do a class”. More than one person has commented that it is like having personal training at a fraction of the cost.